Whenever you play poker online for real money you should bear in mind the place you are and what you are doing. The virtual world is such a complete environment that your particular brain can sometimes be lulled into believing you are within an alternate universe, where nothing is totally ‘real’. But money is definitely real.

Sure you can play good online casino games, including gambling games, and not use real money. But as any keen game player will tell you, the best buzz, the true thrill, only comes when there is risk involved and also the stakes are real. You may make outrageous bets and use crazy strategies with ‘play’ money but you only start earning your poker stripes the hard way whenever you play online poker for real money. In almost any case, if you spend all of your time playing against others using play money, they are not going to engage in the same strategies and tactics as those using real money. You remain a novice on the planet of real poker.

In the event you are going to play poker online for real money choose the sort of site you want to play at. Do you want to play in a casino style environment the place you play the ‘house’, or would you like to play against other poker enthusiasts like yourself? Do you want somewhere that it’s important to set up a separate account with them to play or do you want one that comes out of one of your already existing accounts?

Find out which sites offer differing levels of play based on experience. Some offer tournament play or play between set groups of men and women. In the event you are really serious, choose places which give you the chance to enter qualifiers for the World Series of Poker or even the World Championship of Online Poker. You will find lots of a lot of money, high profile tournaments that you might find yourself in, but you should be prepared to play and learn with the big boys and play online poker for real money.

Whatever you chose to do make certain you’ve got enough put away for your ‘hobby’ in order that your gambling money is not being directly siphoned through your children’s college fund or your nest egg. Gambling should still be a fun pastime even if there is risk and danger involved with creating the thrill. But not the danger of losing your home or possessions!